Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Azolla on Growth and Survibility of Labeo rohita Fingerlings

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of Azolla, on growth and survival of L. rohita fingerlings. One hundred twenty (4.08 ± 0.02 g) fingerlings were randomly distributed in four treatment groups, each with three replications. Four isonitrogenous (crude protein: 27.75-28.26%) experimental diets were prepared with different percentage of Azolla incorporation except the control group, viz., control (T₀), T₁ (20% Azolla), T₂ (40% Azolla) and T₃ (50% Azolla). The physio-chemical parameters were found in the normal range through out the experimental period. The results revealed that the test animals fed with diet containing 40 per cent Azolla showed better growth (15.45 ± 0.24 g in wt. and 13.73 ± 0.47 cm in length) than the test animals fed with 20 per cent, 50 per cent and control diet. The body weight gain per cent was recorded highest in diet containing 40 per cent Azolla (281.57 ± 7.21) than control (175.62 ± 2.31). The specific growth rate (SGR) was found highest in T₂ group (0.73 ± 0.01) followed by T₃ group (0.67± 0.01) which was (P < 0.05) higher than T₁ and control group. The FCR also varied significantly (P<0.05) among the treatment group. The better FCR was observed in T₂ group followed by T₃ group. This results suggest that incorporation of Azolla at 40 per cent can enhances growth in L. rohita fingerlings and can effectively be used in conventional diet of rohu without any adverse effect on growth and survival.